Allegra Spender (Wentworth, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

On Friday, my community was deeply concerned to hear that the door had been reopened on the PEP-11 offshore oil and gas project. Stretching from Manly to Newcastle, the PEP-11 exploration zone covers more than 4,500 square kilometres of Australia's most treasured coastline. It is an area that is home to stunning marine environment, to iconic whale migrations and to a thriving coastal tourism industry. The consequences of exploration and extraction at PEP-11 are dire. It risks irreparable damage to our ocean environment, destroying biodiversity on our east coast and shredding our fledgling climate credentials.

The Prime Minister said in opposition:

… we will stop PEP-11 going ahead, full stop. Exclamation mark. No question. Not equivocal. No ifs, no buts.

He must live up to this commitment. I understand that due process is required, but Labor must not use this as an opportunity or excuse to prevaricate or, worse still, to U-turn.

PEP-11 is not a solution to this fossil fuel energy crisis. It would do irreparable damage to our beautiful coastline, and it will be vigorously opposed by the Wentworth community through groups like the Surfrider Foundation, who were so important in the campaign to stop it last time, and all those who love and care for our oceans. The government must make sure that PEP-11 is dead in the water.

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